Feng Shui Long Island's Blog

I wrote a post not long ago about the value of writing articles and suggested a few sites if you wanted to try to submit them to; they will review them and then publish them online.  On the advice of my webmaster to pull my site up higher, I did start to write but I don't consider myself by any stretch of the imagination A "WRITER."  I have so far about 45 articles that I have written, some good, some not what I would have written now, but they are still "out there."  I DID notice that I started to get calls from potential clients from the articles, however, and I also noticed that my "stats" and placement went up so I plugged away.

Just as some blogs that are posted on Activerain resonate with people, one article in particular started showing up in some of the oddest places.  I found it on My Space, under someone else's profile, I found it on other people's blog sites and I found that it  had been published in a Magazine called "Wisdom."  I thought that although this may not have been the article I resonate most to, perhaps you would.  And also would like to remind you:  Having my articles show up in other places is a wonderful thing for ME---I do not intend to write a book and do not copyright material for that reason.  If you write and place it anywhere on the Internet without a copyright, please remember anyone can use your material.  Something to consider if you plan on publishing it yourself at a later date.  Here's the article that people really enjoyed:

THINGS I WISH I HAD ALWAYS KNOWN:

What an exciting journey life can be!  We were taught so many things growing up, to be polite, to respect others, to go to school and get good grades.  We weren't taught some very important things, probably because they are only learned through the school of "hard knocks."  I must have been absent that day but life lessons and challenges presented themselves and through the years I've learned how to (hopefully) best deal with this wonderful life gift we have been given.

GO WITH THE FLOW:          Things are not going to always go in the way we would like.  Actually quite often they will go in the opposite direction from what we expected the outcome to be.  It's not what presents itself to us that matters as much as it is how we deal with it.  Recognize it as a learning lesson, a challenge but also as a new opportunity to grow.  By coming across different people, circumstances and challenges, we always learn a new (and hopefully) better way to deal with them.  When they come up again, we are old hands at it if we've learned from prior experiences!  When opposition presents, instead of fighting back so hard, sit back for a moment and see how to go with the flow of the life lessons that are being created.

SET CLEAR INTENTIONS:   Like attracts like, there is no getting around it.  We are beings of Energy, we are surrounded by Energy and we need to focus on what we desire to create in our lives.  It is essential to keep a positive attitude and just BE, knowing that the Universe has everything we need and want as long as we are sending the correct Intentions forth.  This is an especially difficult principle to relay to people that have become depressed by circumstances.  Changing your way of thinking from the negative to the positive has done amazing things that are documented:  cured cancer, brought wealth beyond someone's wildest dreams, attracted wonderful people into their lives to love and support them.  Stay in the positive and you will get back the best possible outcomes.

LEARN TO LET GO:  Difficult as it can be, reassess your life and the people in it.  Are they positive, like minded and do they support you when you need it most?  Do they truly care about you or are they around you for another reason?  I realized at one point that sadly enough, some of the people I called "friends" weren't there for me, for the joyful occasions or the sad.  And although some of them had been around for years, I needed to let go to be free to attract new people into my life that would truly care about me, support me and just BE there for me.  Family members were a bit more difficult and I just cut down some of my time with them.  Letting go of the old, and the known, is a difficult process but until we learn to let go we won't have room in our lives for the wonderful new people to come into it.

COUNT ON YOURSELF:       You are stronger then you ever imagined.  Learn to count on yourself and not rely on someone else for your needs, wants and successes.  You create your own life, not someone else and you are armed with everything you need to create all the desires in your heart.  Co-dependant became a big word years ago and unfortunately still applies today.  Learn to take charge of your own life and watch what you will create!

ALLOW THE MESSAGES:     Some people complain they never get messages, yet they are sent to us all the time.  From loved ones who have passed, from our Spirit Guides, from our Sixth Sense, from the Universe itself.  Trust yourself to take the time to SEE them; they are important as they are what guide us through life.  Often in these stressful times, we don't even take the time to listen to our inner feelings---and kick ourselves later on, saying "I know I should (shouldn't) have done that! We are working with Energy, learn to see, trust and believe in it and the messages will come to you.  It's the basis of Inspiration.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: I may sound like a broken record on this one, but it bears repeating (again and again sometimes).  When you focus only on the negative, you are going to get back more of the same.  Everyone has blessings, examine them, count them and as you keep those in mind, more will come.  Counted Blessings add up to more blessings coming your way and soon you will have more then you ever imagined.

FIND THE SILVER LINING: Every cloud has one.  It's our job to find it and many times not an easy task.  But it is there if we look.  That silver lining is our window of opportunity to change the situation around and if we miss it, we have missed a chance to change and grow.  A love has left you and you're devastated?  It also gives you more time to focus on YOU, things perhaps you didn't have time to do that you can now get involved with, an opportunity to meet and surround yourself with new people, places, things and ideas.  Find that silver lining and USE it.

A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS:            Oftentimes when we are "stuck" or just plain sad, we see things in only black and white.  We are unable to see the options open to us, to look at the world and our lives in a different way.  Open yourself up to learn something new, read a book full of inspirational stories, be open to things that you once looked at as "odd" or "different" as an opportunity to learn new things about yourself, your life and the way you are living it.  For years Feng Shui was a "fad" until people discovered that it actually works.  If you rely heavily on your doctors, for example, look into wholistic health alternatives as well.  Read subjects you wouldn't usually choose and make them inspiring---they will inspire you as well.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS:                Don't allow anyone to stop or deter you from your dreams.  Your life was not created to look back and wonder what would have happened if you had found your passion and not created it.  Negative people will sometimes give us the wrong information and try to deter us from achieving what we really want.  These are their own doubts and fears coming out and being projected onto you.  Don't allow it.  You will never have to wonder what would have happened if you had only tried.

KEEP AN OPEN HEART:      You meet everyone in life for a reason.  Open your heart to them; they were given to you as a gift or a learning tool.  Don't be too busy to pursue a new friendship, don't just tell yourself the timing is wrong for a relationship, first step back a moment and see what these people are bringing to you and why you have attracted them.  It is oftentimes for a wonderful reason, to meet a new and like minded person you have much in common with, a possible business partner or a new romance.  Sometimes it is for challenges we must face.  Just know they have come to you for a reason and keep your heart open to all who enter your own special space in the world. 

Remember, it is often the challenges in life we must learn that teach us the most. Without them, we would likely be stuck somewhere; they are what force us to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move on.         

By:  Carole Provenzale, Feng Shui Long Island

      http://www.FengShuiLI.com

To my fellow Activerainers, a true Feng Shui Test for you.  These are real pictures of a place requesting Feng Shui Help in Dix Hills, Long Island. I would love to hear some comments on what YOU would do to this space either in Feng Shui, Decorating or both.

Here's the background and then some pictures:  This is a non-profit, high functioning adult residence home located in Dix Hills, Long Island, New York.  I was emailed several months ago for help but after completing the project last year I felt I couldn't take it on.  This place is unable to keep staff, I was told it was like a revolving door.  And the residents were in a bit of chaos.  People's morales were down, there is no money coming in to help and they were looking for some Feng Shui solutions.

I suggested they contact the New York City Feng Shui Guild and felt sure since they have so many members someone or a group would help them.  And apparently they were told they could not.  I received an email with these pictures (and more) asking for help and really didn't know how to respond; I just am so busy right now.  Taking the time to review the pictures and give them a Feng Shui perspective and suggestions was going to  take some time.  I emailed the director back that I just couldn't at the moment and received another email back saying that he, too, felt that he had tried everything, wasn't happy and would be leaving also.

Well, that's one way to get me. How sad I felt reading that and I couldn't NOT help.  I spent quite a bit of time the other night reviewing all the pictures (of which I am posting just a sampling) but knowing the history of the workers, what would YOU change in this place?  And remember that it is non profit which means anything that costs much money at all simply could NOT be done.

Here are some of the pictures of the Adult Residence located in Dix Hills, Long Island, New York asking for Feng Shui assistance; I would love to hear your recommendations:

A picture of the Main office where the staff keeps leaving.

Another shot of the office.

One of the hallways.

The "lounge" area

Another part of the lounge area also showing the opening into the office and a resident's room.

The hallway leading to the bathroom of the residence.

Another long hallway from a different angle, leading to the office space.

Just one of the resident's rooms.

I would love to hear if you would work here and what changes you would make for an inexpensive "fix" to help the staff stay and help the residents be calmer.  A CHI STAR just might be awarded for the best answers to a place with poor Feng Shui!

A few of you have requested a blog about my favorite area of the Bagua called "Helpful People."  Having been in Lindenhurst, Long Island today for a consultation with a wonderful client, I was giving her the information about this area and why I believe it "kick starts" the process of Feng Shui in many cases. 

A little aside note about this consultation and why I now have a new "Helpful person" as well.  She is going through a difficult time and had interviewed three consultants (always a good idea to speak to more than one) and had felt a connection with me.  I always believe you get the clients you are meant to have and in her particular case, I was amazed myself at the similarities between us.  She was close in age to me and going through some of the same things I have already gone through.  Her home was small and very neat and I could show her, in her house, where each area was and she herself was amazed to see how her home reflected the issues she was going through.  Of course I am able to get much more in depth with a client about specifics but this can help you start---today!

Lindenhurst, Long Island is a lovely little town and a quick bit of information on it:  Years ago the downtown was a real "low" spot.  Main Street was not a place to go at that time, most of the stores were closed and boarded up and it was a place we stayed out of, at least at night.  I remember the progressive town allotted a certain amount of money to "revitalize" the area and they allotted it to one of my Mentors, Ms. Pamela Laurance, a Feng Shui Consultant!  Quite a progressive move, especially at that time.  I can recall certain changes she made (including the lighting, an important Feng Shui Issue) with her using some old time Gas Lamps and downtown began to change.  The year was 1995 and Lindenhust began to pick up after her adjustments.  It is now a wonderful place to go with many restaurants and a booming Main Street.  Those town officials were visionaries!

And back to Helpful People.  These "cures" or changes are simply because a simple change and shift in Energy can cause some wonderful things to happen.  I have blogged often before about the "Intention" you put behind any change and that is because it is KEY to change things with an Energy and Infusion of what you want to create.  The Secret calls it the Law of Attraction, we call it Intention.  It is basically sending out exactly what you want to get back---and it DOES work.  If some of these things seem to simple, I try to break them down to make them simple.  You have to start somewhere and I have seen big things from small changes.  I can attest to that and so can my clients.

What are Helpful People?  They are your TRUE friends or relatives, the ones you can count on NO MATTER WHAT.  The very few people you can call at 3am if you need someone, the people that just don't let you down.  We can never have enough Helpful People and most of us have far too few.  How do we attract more of these wonderful people into our lives?  Easy.  Create a shelf....and put something there that one of those people has given you or, if they have passed, that you have from them.  If you don't have anything, put their name on a card.  You are acknowledging these people in that way and leave room at the end of the shelf.  This is to be able to keep adding people as they come into your life.  I recommend a cup (metal) on this shelf if you are looking for certain types of people:  the new, perfect business partner for example.  Write down what you are calling in and place them in the cup.

And then I ask my clients to "step out of the box" a bit.  This is easy for me because I am talkative and outgoing and I will start conversations with anyone.  On a train, a line at the grocery store, anywhere.  Or I will try.  Some people are obviously responsive and others will look at you as if you've got two heads.....that's ok!  You know who and what you are!  I strike up conversations with some that I am meant to meet.  Some are passing acquaintances while others become more.  You make a connection, strike a nerve and have things in common with these people.  In getting to know them later on you realize that they often become not only a friend but a true Helpful Person.  Or maybe they will help you in another way:  they will know a painter who is good, they may know of a job opening, they may know Mr. (or Ms.) RIGHT.  You have drawn these people into your life by acknowledging the ones you have and attracting new ones in. 

For some reason I have seen this area become the catalyst for other Feng Shui adjustments to start....creating the Feng Shui Synchronisity that I speak of.  You don't have to believe in Feng Shui for it to work but you do have to infuse it with Energy and Intentions.  And honestly, couldn't you use some real HELPFUL PEOPLE?

Ah, back to my regularly scheduled posts!  Phyllis mentioned in a comment that I have been to many places this year and gotten to see many things and she's right, I have been SO fortunate to get called for Feng Shui Consultations from from all over.  Now I'm traveling by Ferry and it was a first :)  This post is more about pictures because you have to SEE Fire Island to believe it but it is an incredible place.

Fire Island is divided into different areas.  And there are NO CARS ALLOWED!  Two of the areas I visited recently were Ocean Beach (the unofficial "Capitol" of Fire Island) and a stop in Cherry Grove.  Fire Island is one of the hottest places to have a beach house but it totally unlike The Hamptons.  There are no class barriers here and it's still considered a "Bohemian getaway."  Ocean Beach boasts about 600 homes now with more being built every day and is a "family" community.  Cherry Grove is a more flamboyant lifestyle  and a hotbed of gay culture, considered by many to be the oldest and first gay communities in the United States.  Both are full of artistic expression (as you will see), the most creative "landscaping" , art galleries, fine restaurants and a beautiful beach.  Here's some shots I captured while there:

The ferry just taking "off." 

Some of the amazing "Garden Art" you'll pass.

Am I the only one amazed by this?  I was thoroughly enjoying this adventure :)

This was a different house, instead of a backyard it was your entrance.  Talk about a "Mouth of Chi" :)

This tree just amazed me. 

They come right up to the front doors!

You can see a few of the homes along the beach and the borders they are trying to put up to stop the beach erosion.

And one of the beautiful beaches that surround this lovely place.  Fire Island, Long Island, New York.  Make it a MUST when you visit!

http://www.FengShuiLI.com